Romney's draft record was made clear in a Freedom of Information release by the Selective Service in 2007. In 1965, he first had a 1-SH, then a 2-S deferment. In 1966, he got a 4-D deferment as a "minister of religion or divinity student" for his Mormon mission, which lasted until 1969, when he regained his 2-S deferment. This lasted until December 1970, when he was reclassified 1-A (eligible).

However, that year, the draft changed to a lottery system based on birth date. His birth date was 300 of 365. Selective Service never got to that number so, in January 1972, he was reclassified 1-H (no longer subject to induction).